New Town Center

MIRAMAR Communications network planned Miramar's new town center will be equipped with a $163,000 communication system. At a recent meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to purchase the equipment from Coleman Technologies Inc. The state-of-the-art network will link the new city hall, near Red Road and Miramar Parkway, to Sunset Lakes Community Center. It also is intended to provide instant access -- wire and wireless -- to employees and residents. The equipment is being purchased to maintain a competitive edge in government and business, city officials said.

Wellington's amphitheater will be complete this summer and the village is hoping to host a grand opening celebration in July. The village is now looking for letters of intent from organizations and/or individuals who are interested in providing programming for the venue or working with Wellington to coordinate events and activities. They're looking to ensure diverse, quality programming and professional consistent productions. "We haven't really decided what avenue we're taking yet," said Nicole Evangelista, assistant to the city manager.

Wellington's amphitheater will be complete this summer and the village is hoping to host a grand opening celebration in July. The village is now looking for letters of intent from organizations and/or individuals who are interested in providing programming for the venue or working with Wellington to coordinate events and activities. They're looking to ensure diverse, quality programming and professional consistent productions. "We haven't really decided what avenue we're taking yet," said Nicole Evangelista, assistant to the city manager.

Wellington is looking for volunteers to put together Scott's Place, a barrier-free playground that will be part of its new Town Center. "This is a dream of two Wellington residents, Del and Barbara Williamson," said principal project manager Rick Greene. "It's in memory of their son, Scott. They wanted to build a park where special-needs children could play with able-bodied kids." Scott was born with cerebral palsy and died at age 6. "We're very excited to see this to fruition.

DAVIE -- Is it a junkyard, a damaged car lot, a salvage pool or an automobile wrecking yard? Town residents and tenants in the New Town Office Center say the Sadisco of Florida lot for wrecked cars is a junkyard by any other name. But no matter what it is, soon there will be more of it. The Town Council earlier this month voted unanimously to allow the 100,000- square-foot lot, at 4199 Kean Road, to increase to 596,426 square feet -- nearly six times its current size. Some residents and business owners were not happy.

The city is saying "No" to new coin laundries, convenience stores and pole signs in two parts of town, at least for the next six months. City officials say they need time to formulate new rules for development. The City Commission this month unanimously approved the moratorium, saying current regulations are inadequate. "For example, a 24-hour store can shine bright lights all night," said Gary Rogers, the city's director of community development. "Why (allow a new project) when the rules are going to change?"

A public meeting to discuss demolition of the city's old wastewater treatment plant will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Miramar Civic Center, 6920 SW 35th St. Officials will inform the community about the demolition and its impact to the area and explain proposed uses for the site at 7000 Miramar Parkway. Earlier this month, city commissioners approved paying $293,095 to Camp Dresser & McKee to take down the treatment plant and clear the way for park space and economic development projects.

George Pedlar, the Jamaican-American incumbent unseated in Tuesday's race, said he knew he faced an uphill battle the minute he was challenged by former commissioner Sallie Stephens, a popular black community leader and retired educator. Four candidates vied for the seat won by Troy Samuels, who is white and who lives in the western community of Vizcaya. "The outcome was very predictable based on the circumstances," Pedlar said Wednesday. "We have a very ethnic community and the voting was along those lines, with a Caribbean-American, African-American and Euro-American in the race."

City commissioners on Wednesday night authorized the city manager to try to negotiate an agreement with a group that wants to build the new Miramar Town Center. The move allows the city to discuss price and a time schedule for the project with Miramar Town Center Group, a team of developers, architects and planners. Commissioners, who want to give their input on the project's design, would have to approve any contract with the group. On Wednesday, Miramar Town Center Group presented its vision for the Town Center, a governmental complex that would feature a new city hall, library, cultural arts center, shops and restaurants.

The City Commission has taken the first step toward making the proposed Town Center district a reality by supporting zoning changes on parts of Sample Road and University Drive. The district will be divided into primary and secondary zones, with Sample Road east from Northwest 99th Way to University Drive comprising the primary zone; and Sample Road west from Northwest 99th Way to Coral Springs Drive, and University Drive south from Sample Road to Northwest 25th Court comprising the secondary zones.

George Pedlar, the Jamaican-American incumbent unseated in Tuesday's race, said he knew he faced an uphill battle the minute he was challenged by former commissioner Sallie Stephens, a popular black community leader and retired educator. Four candidates vied for the seat won by Troy Samuels, who is white and who lives in the western community of Vizcaya. "The outcome was very predictable based on the circumstances," Pedlar said Wednesday. "We have a very ethnic community and the voting was along those lines, with a Caribbean-American, African-American and Euro-American in the race."

A choir sang Awesome God atop a stage next to the impressively lit facade of the city's new Town Center. Meanwhile, thousands looked skyward as fireworks went off. And ecstatic children held out their tongues to catch snowflakes from snow-blowing machines. The event -- the Holiday Illuminations and grand opening of the Miramar Town Center -- featured the lighting of the city's holiday tree, special shows, rides, live music, face painting, sand art and a visit from Santa Claus. If it seemed there was a lot going on, that's because this year's event combined activities that normally had been scattered at various city parks.

MIRAMAR Communications network planned Miramar's new town center will be equipped with a $163,000 communication system. At a recent meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to purchase the equipment from Coleman Technologies Inc. The state-of-the-art network will link the new city hall, near Red Road and Miramar Parkway, to Sunset Lakes Community Center. It also is intended to provide instant access -- wire and wireless -- to employees and residents. The equipment is being purchased to maintain a competitive edge in government and business, city officials said.

The city is saying "No" to new coin laundries, convenience stores and pole signs in two parts of town, at least for the next six months. City officials say they need time to formulate new rules for development. The City Commission this month unanimously approved the moratorium, saying current regulations are inadequate. "For example, a 24-hour store can shine bright lights all night," said Gary Rogers, the city's director of community development. "Why (allow a new project) when the rules are going to change?"

City commissioners on Wednesday night authorized the city manager to try to negotiate an agreement with a group that wants to build the new Miramar Town Center. The move allows the city to discuss price and a time schedule for the project with Miramar Town Center Group, a team of developers, architects and planners. Commissioners, who want to give their input on the project's design, would have to approve any contract with the group. On Wednesday, Miramar Town Center Group presented its vision for the Town Center, a governmental complex that would feature a new city hall, library, cultural arts center, shops and restaurants.

A public meeting to discuss demolition of the city's old wastewater treatment plant will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Miramar Civic Center, 6920 SW 35th St. Officials will inform the community about the demolition and its impact to the area and explain proposed uses for the site at 7000 Miramar Parkway. Earlier this month, city commissioners approved paying $293,095 to Camp Dresser & McKee to take down the treatment plant and clear the way for park space and economic development projects.

A choir sang Awesome God atop a stage next to the impressively lit facade of the city's new Town Center. Meanwhile, thousands looked skyward as fireworks went off. And ecstatic children held out their tongues to catch snowflakes from snow-blowing machines. The event -- the Holiday Illuminations and grand opening of the Miramar Town Center -- featured the lighting of the city's holiday tree, special shows, rides, live music, face painting, sand art and a visit from Santa Claus. If it seemed there was a lot going on, that's because this year's event combined activities that normally had been scattered at various city parks.

The City Commission has taken the first step toward making the proposed Town Center district a reality by supporting zoning changes on parts of Sample Road and University Drive. The district will be divided into primary and secondary zones, with Sample Road east from Northwest 99th Way to University Drive comprising the primary zone; and Sample Road west from Northwest 99th Way to Coral Springs Drive, and University Drive south from Sample Road to Northwest 25th Court comprising the secondary zones.

DAVIE -- Is it a junkyard, a damaged car lot, a salvage pool or an automobile wrecking yard? Town residents and tenants in the New Town Office Center say the Sadisco of Florida lot for wrecked cars is a junkyard by any other name. But no matter what it is, soon there will be more of it. The Town Council earlier this month voted unanimously to allow the 100,000- square-foot lot, at 4199 Kean Road, to increase to 596,426 square feet -- nearly six times its current size. Some residents and business owners were not happy.